Chester A. ArthurChester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 – November 18, 1886) was an American politician who served as 21st President of the United States. Arthur was a member of the Republican Party and worked as a lawyer before becoming the 20th Vice President in the administration of James Garfield. Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker, on July 2, 1881. Garfield died on September 19th, and Arthur became President, serving until 1885. Before entering national politics, Arthur had been Collector of Customs for the Port of New York. He was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant but was fired by Grant's successor, Rutherford B. Hayes, under (false) suspicion of bribery and corruption. His notable achievements in office as President included civil service reform and the passage of the Pendleton Act. Arthur is also remembered as one of the most society-conscious presidents, earning the nickname "the Gentleman Boss" for his style of dress and courtly manner, and was widely popular by the time he left office; in fact, not one but two young women (ignorant of Arthur's pronouncement that he would never marry again) proposed to him on the day he left office. He was also sometimes called "Elegant Arthur" for his commitment to fashionable attire. He kept 80 pairs of pants in his wardrobe,and changed pants several times a day. He was called "Chet" by family and friends. Interestingly, Arthur pronounced his middle name, Alan, with the stress on the second syllable -- "Al-AN." Arthur suffered from Bright's Disease and died of a cerebral hemorrhage, most likely related to a history of hypertension, approximately twenty-four hours after being found unconscious by his nurse. BiographyArthur was born in the town of Fairfield in Franklin County, Vermont on October 5, 1829 (although he told people that he was born in 1830). Political rivals long circulated the rumor that he had been born in Canada rather than in Vermont, hoping to create doubts as to his eligibility for American public office. The truth, however, was simply that Arthur was born near the Canadian border. His parents were William Arthur and Malvina Stone. He attended the public schools and was graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1848. He became principal of an academy in North Pownal, Vermont in 1851. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1854, and commenced practice in New York City, supporting equal rights for blacks who objected to the segregation of city transportation. He also took an active part in the reorganization of the New York State militia. Arthur married Ellen "Nell" Lewis Herndon in October 1859. In 1860, the couple had a son, William Lewis, named for Mrs. Arthur's father, who died at age two of a brain disorder. Another boy, Chester Alan, was born in 1864, and a girl, named Ellen Herndon for her mother, in 1871. Ellen Lewis Herndon Arthur died of pneumonia on January 12, 1880, at the age of 42, 10 months before Arthur was elected Vice President. While in the White House, Arthur would not give anyone the place that would have been his wife's. He asked his sister Mary (Mrs. John E. McElroy) to assume certain social duties and help care for his daughter. During the Civil War, Arthur served as acting quartermaster general of the state in 1861 and was widely praised for his service. He was later commissioned as inspector general, and appointed quartermaster general with the rank of brigadier general, and served until 1862. He resumed the practice of law in New York City. With the help of Arthur's patron and political boss Roscoe Conkling, Arthur was appointed by President Ulysses Grant as Collector of the port of New York from 1871 to 1878. This was an extremely lucrative and powerful position at the time, and several of Arthur's predecessors had run afoul of the law while serving as Collector. Honorable in his personal life and his public career, Arthur nevertheless was a firm believer in the spoils system even as it was coming under vehement attack from reformers. He insisted upon honest administration of the Customs House, but staffed it with more employees than it really needed, retaining some for their loyalty as party workers rather than for their skill as public servants. In 1878 President Rutherford B. Hayes, attempting to reform the Customs House, ousted Arthur, who resumed the practice of law in New York City. Conkling and his followers tried to win redress by fighting for the renomination of Grant at the 1880 Republican Convention. Failing in that, they reluctantly accepted the nomination of Arthur for the Vice Presidency. Arthur was elected Vice President of the United States on the Republican ticket with President James Garfield for the term beginning March 4, 1881. Upon the death of President Garfield due to assassination, Arthur became President of the United States on September 19, 1881.
PresidencyChester A. ArthurAvoiding old political cronies, Arthur determined to go his own way once in the White House. He became a man of fashion in his garb and associates, and often was seen with the elite of Washington, D.C., New York, and Newport. To the indignation of the Stalwart Republicans, the onetime Collector of the Port of New York became, as President, a champion of civil service reform. Public pressure, heightened by the assassination of Garfield, forced an unwieldy Congress to heed the President. In 1883 Congress passed the Pendleton Act, which established a bipartisan Civil Service Commission, forbade levying political assessments against officeholders, and provided for a "classified system" that made certain Government positions obtainable only through competitive written examinations. The system protected employees against removal for political reasons. Acting independently of party dogma, Arthur also tried to lower tariff rates so the Government would not be embarrassed by annual surpluses of revenue. Congress raised about as many rates as it trimmed, but Arthur signed the Tariff Act of 1883 anyway. Aggrieved Westerners and Southerners looked to the Democratic Party for redress, and the tariff began to emerge as a major political issue between the two parties. The Arthur Administration enacted the first general Federal immigration law. Arthur approved a measure in 1882 excluding paupers, criminals, and the mentally ill. Congress also suspended Chinese immigration for ten years, later making the restriction permanent. In 1884 the International Meridian Conference was held in Washington at President Arthur´s behest. This established the Greenwich Meridian which is still in use today. President Arthur demonstrated that he was above factions within the Republican Party, if indeed not above the party itself. Perhaps in part his reason was the well-kept secret he had known since a year after he succeeded to the Presidency, that he was suffering from Bright's Disease, a fatal kidney disease (see 'Presidential disability prior to 1967' in Acting President of the United States). Arthur kept himself in the running for the Presidential nomination in 1884 in order not to appear that he feared defeat, but was not renominated. Publisher Alexander K. McClure wrote, "No man ever entered the Presidency so profoundly and widely distrusted, and no one ever retired ... more generally respected." Author Mark Twain, deeply cynical of politicians, conceded, "It would be hard indeed to better President Arthur's administration." Arthur served as president until March 4, 1885. He returned to New York City where he died of a massive cerebral hemorrhage at 5:10 a.m. on Thursday November 18, 1886, at the age of 57. Chester was buried next to Ellen in the Arthur family plot in the Albany Rural Cemetery in Albany, New York, in a large sarcophagus on a large corner plot that contains the graves of many of his family members and ancestors. CabinetSignificant events during presidency
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Arthur served as president until March 4, 1885. Dieter Zetsche, currently President and CEO of the Chrysler Group, will take Schrempp's place on January 1, 2006. more generally respected." Author Mark Twain, deeply cynical of politicians, conceded, "It would be hard indeed to better President Arthur's administration.". Currently the Mercedes-Benz Car Group has reported losses while the Chrysler group has reported gains of nearly (7%). McClure wrote, "No man ever entered the Presidency so profoundly and widely distrusted, and no one ever retired .. Schrempp has been blamed for the fall of the company since Daimler-Benz's merger with the Chrysler Group in 1998 of which he was the architect of. Publisher Alexander K. In an agreement with the board of directors and Schrempp, he will terminate his employment with the company early (his contract ran through 2008). Arthur kept himself in the running for the Presidential nomination in 1884 in order not to appear that he feared defeat, but was not renominated. Schrempp has announced that he will be resigning from his position at the end of 2005 as head of the world's fifth largest auto manufacturer and Europe's largest corporation. Perhaps in part his reason was the well-kept secret he had known since a year after he succeeded to the Presidency, that he was suffering from Bright's Disease, a fatal kidney disease (see 'Presidential disability prior to 1967' in Acting President of the United States). Chairman Jurgen E. President Arthur demonstrated that he was above factions within the Republican Party, if indeed not above the party itself. between Kirk Kerkorian and DaimlerChrysler AG regarding the same elements of argument from the settled August 2003 case although the Judge in Kerkorian's case was found to be in favor of DaimlerChrysler's position by rejecting Kerkorian's allegations. This established the Greenwich Meridian which is still in use today. presiding over a bench trial in Wilmington, Del. In 1884 the International Meridian Conference was held in Washington at President Arthur´s behest. District Judge Joseph Farnan Jr. Congress also suspended Chinese immigration for ten years, later making the restriction permanent. On April 7, 2005 a conclusion was announced by U.S. Arthur approved a measure in 1882 excluding paupers, criminals, and the mentally ill. The German auto giant is also the target of a lawsuit alleging that buyers were subjected to racial slurs and discrimination. The Arthur Administration enacted the first general Federal immigration law. One class action lawsuit was settled in August 2003 for $300 million. Aggrieved Westerners and Southerners looked to the Democratic Party for redress, and the tariff began to emerge as a major political issue between the two parties. Stertz). Congress raised about as many rates as it trimmed, but Arthur signed the Tariff Act of 1883 anyway. The $36 billion deception became the focal point of several lawsuits, including one filed by billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, and also a book (Taken for a Ride: How Daimler-Benz Drove Off With Chrysler, (2000) by Bill Vlasic and Bradley A. Acting independently of party dogma, Arthur also tried to lower tariff rates so the Government would not be embarrassed by annual surpluses of revenue. Future cars are to share platforms across all of DaimlerChrysler's brands. The system protected employees against removal for political reasons. This news came forth as new products such as the Chrysler Crossfire (using extensive Mercedes parts) and the Dodge Sprinter/Freightliner Sprinter (a rebadged Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van came to market. In 1883 Congress passed the Pendleton Act, which established a bipartisan Civil Service Commission, forbade levying political assessments against officeholders, and provided for a "classified system" that made certain Government positions obtainable only through competitive written examinations. In 2003 however, it was revealed by the Detroit News that the "merger of equals" was, in fact, a buyout. Public pressure, heightened by the assassination of Garfield, forced an unwieldy Congress to heed the President. In 2002, the merged company appeared to run two independent product lines, with few signs of corporate integration. To the indignation of the Stalwart Republicans, the onetime Collector of the Port of New York became, as President, a champion of civil service reform. . He became a man of fashion in his garb and associates, and often was seen with the elite of Washington, D.C., New York, and Newport. Its stake in Mitsubishi was 37%, but because it did not participate in a new capital increase in April 2004, it is now at 22%. Avoiding old political cronies, Arthur determined to go his own way once in the White House. DaimlerChrysler also has a stake in the Japanese car company Mitsubishi as well as the car operations of Korean manufacturer Hyundai. Upon the death of President Garfield due to assassination, Arthur became President of the United States on September 19, 1881. The Chrysler Group (Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge) also provides its customers with parts and accessories marketed under the Mopar® brand name. Arthur was elected Vice President of the United States on the Republican ticket with President James Garfield for the term beginning March 4, 1881. The company produces cars and trucks under the brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Mercedes-Benz, Smart, and Maybach, among others. Failing in that, they reluctantly accepted the nomination of Arthur for the Vice Presidency. The buyout was announced as a "merger of equals" on May 7 but actually took place on November 12 and was not revealed to be a buyout until 2003. Conkling and his followers tried to win redress by fighting for the renomination of Grant at the 1880 Republican Convention. DaimlerChrysler was formed in 1998 by the buyout of the Chrysler Corporation (USA) by Daimler-Benz (Germany). Hayes, attempting to reform the Customs House, ousted Arthur, who resumed the practice of law in New York City. DaimlerChrysler AG (Xetra: DCX), NYSE: DCX, has its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany and is a prominent automobile and truck manufacturer. In 1878 President Rutherford B. Sold in August 2004 for US$900,000,000. He insisted upon honest administration of the Customs House, but staffed it with more employees than it really needed, retaining some for their loyalty as party workers rather than for their skill as public servants. 10.5% Hyundai Motor Company - Bought in 2000 and 2001 for US$572,000,000. Honorable in his personal life and his public career, Arthur nevertheless was a firm believer in the spoils system even as it was coming under vehement attack from reformers. Freightliner, LLC. This was an extremely lucrative and powerful position at the time, and several of Arthur's predecessors had run afoul of the law while serving as Collector. 43% Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation of Japan. With the help of Arthur's patron and political boss Roscoe Conkling, Arthur was appointed by President Ulysses Grant as Collector of the port of New York from 1871 to 1878. 30.2% EADS, a parent company of Airbus (as of September 2002). He resumed the practice of law in New York City. 37.1% Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan (currently being sold). He was later commissioned as inspector general, and appointed quartermaster general with the rank of brigadier general, and served until 1862. Detroit Diesel. During the Civil War, Arthur served as acting quartermaster general of the state in 1861 and was widely praised for his service. MTU Friedrichshafen. McElroy) to assume certain social duties and help care for his daughter. Engine Brands
He asked his sister Mary (Mrs. Sterling Trucks. While in the White House, Arthur would not give anyone the place that would have been his wife's. Setra. Ellen Lewis Herndon Arthur died of pneumonia on January 12, 1880, at the age of 42, 10 months before Arthur was elected Vice President. Mitsubishi Fuso. Another boy, Chester Alan, was born in 1864, and a girl, named Ellen Herndon for her mother, in 1871. Mercedes-Benz. Arthur's father, who died at age two of a brain disorder. Freightliner. In 1860, the couple had a son, William Lewis, named for Mrs. Commercial Vehicle Brands
He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1854, and commenced practice in New York City, supporting equal rights for blacks who objected to the segregation of city transportation. Jeep. He became principal of an academy in North Pownal, Vermont in 1851. Dodge. He attended the public schools and was graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1848. Chrysler. His parents were William Arthur and Malvina Stone. Chrysler Group
The truth, however, was simply that Arthur was born near the Canadian border. smart. Political rivals long circulated the rumor that he had been born in Canada rather than in Vermont, hoping to create doubts as to his eligibility for American public office. Mercedes-Benz. Arthur was born in the town of Fairfield in Franklin County, Vermont on October 5, 1829 (although he told people that he was born in 1830). Maybach. . Global Electric Microcars (GEM). Arthur suffered from Bright's Disease and died of a cerebral hemorrhage, most likely related to a history of hypertension, approximately twenty-four hours after being found unconscious by his nurse. Mercedes Car Group
He was also sometimes called "Elegant Arthur" for his commitment to fashionable attire. Arthur is also remembered as one of the most society-conscious presidents, earning the nickname "the Gentleman Boss" for his style of dress and courtly manner, and was widely popular by the time he left office; in fact, not one but two young women (ignorant of Arthur's pronouncement that he would never marry again) proposed to him on the day he left office. His notable achievements in office as President included civil service reform and the passage of the Pendleton Act. Hayes, under (false) suspicion of bribery and corruption. Grant but was fired by Grant's successor, Rutherford B. He was appointed by President Ulysses S. Before entering national politics, Arthur had been Collector of Customs for the Port of New York. Garfield died on September 19th, and Arthur became President, serving until 1885. Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker, on July 2, 1881. Arthur was a member of the Republican Party and worked as a lawyer before becoming the 20th Vice President in the administration of James Garfield. Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 – November 18, 1886) was an American politician who served as 21st President of the United States. Civil Rights Cases (1883). Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act (1883). Chinese Exclusion Act (1882). Standard Oil founded (1882). Note - Arthur was sworn in September 20th. |